Washington County, Alabama

For counties with a similar name, see Washington County (disambiguation).

Washington County, Alabama
Washington County Courthouse in Chatom, Alabama
Location in the state of Alabama
Alabama's location in the U.S.
Founded	June 4, 1800
Seat	Chatom
Largest city	Chatom
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,088.54 sq mi (2,819 km²) 1,080.66 sq mi (2,799 km²) 7.89 sq mi (20 km²), (0.72%)
Population  - (2010)  - Density	17,581 16/sq mi (6.2/km²)

Washington County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. The county was named in honor of George Washington, first President of the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 17,581. Its county seat is Chatom. Washington County is a dry county.

History

The area was long inhabited by indigenous peoples. In historic times, European traders encountered the Choctaw and later Creek Indians, who were driven southwest from Georgia by encroaching European settlement.

European-American settlers organized Washington County in Tombigbee District by proclamation of Governor Winthrop Sargent of Mississippi Territories on June 4, 1800. It is the oldest county in the State of Alabama and was settled mostly by people from the Southeast moving west after the American Revolutionary War. Washington County is home to the site of St. Stephens, the first territorial capital of Alabama, and was the scene of the 1807 capture of Aaron Burr at Wakefield, Alabama during his flight from prosecution for treason.

Although in the 1830s, the US government removed most of the Choctaw and Creek were removed to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River, some chose to remain in this area of Alabama and become state citizens. They have struggled to maintain Choctaw culture as the whites imposed a binary culture of white and "all other" people of color classified as black. In 1979 the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians was recognized by the state. The people are concentrated along the border of Mobile and Washington counties.

During the American Civil War, more than three-fourths of the adult men volunteered and served in the Confederate Army as of 1863. At that time, a group of children petitioned the CSA to avoid drafting men, so they might serve as a sort of homeland militia. The petition said the men were needed to protect against potential slave uprisings, inasmuch as the county had numerous plantations with large slave populations.

The county was declared a disaster area in September 1979 due to damage from Hurricane Frederic.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,082.31 square miles (2,803.2 km²), of which 1,080.66 square miles (2,798.9 km²) (or 91.81%) is land and 7.89 square miles (20.4 km²) (or 0.72%) is water. The Tombigbee River borders Washington County to the east.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 43
• U.S. Highway 45
• State Route 17
• State Route 56

Adjacent counties

• Choctaw County (north)
• Clarke County (east)
• Baldwin County (southeast)
• Mobile County (south)
• Greene County, Mississippi (southwest)
• Wayne County, Mississippi (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	4,118		—
1830	3,474		−15.6%
1840	5,300		52.6%
1850	2,713		−48.8%
1860	4,669		72.1%
1870	3,912		−16.2%
1880	4,538		16.0%
1890	7,935		74.9%
1900	11,134		40.3%
1910	14,454		29.8%
1920	14,279		−1.2%
1930	16,365		14.6%
1940	16,188		−1.1%
1950	15,612		−3.6%
1960	15,372		−1.5%
1970	16,241		5.7%
1980	16,821		3.6%
1990	16,694		−0.8%
2000	18,097		8.4%
2010	17,581		−2.9%

2010

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:

• 65.5% White
• 24.9% Black
• 8.0% Native American
• 0.1% Asian
• 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 1.2% Two or more races
• 0.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,097 people, 6,705 households, and 5,042 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 8,123 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.98% White, 26.89% Black or African American, 7.12% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. 0.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,705 households out of which 37.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,815, and the median income for a family was $37,881. Males had a median income of $35,237 versus $18,337 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,081. About 14.80% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 22.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Probate Judge Charles Singleton

Superintendent Tim Savage

Area

Cities and towns

• Chatom
• Deer Park
• Fruitdale
• Leroy
• Saint Stephens
• Wagarville
• McIntosh
• Millry
• Vinegar Bend
• Tibbie
• Hobson

Schools/Education

Current Superintendent: Tim Savage

The Washington County School system includes:

• Chatom Elementary School
• Fruitdale High School
• Leroy High School
• McIntosh Elementary School
• McIntosh High School
• Washington County High School
• Career Technical Center
• Millry High School

Places of interest

Washington County has three sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Andrews Chapel in McIntosh and the Old Washington County Courthouse and Old St. Stephens Site in St. Stephens. The Washington County Museum is located in Chatom.

Notable natives or residents

• Wilmer David "Vinegar Bend" Mizell (1930–1999) was born in Vinegar Bend, Washington County. He was reared nearby in Mississippi. Mizell was elected as a three-term Republican congressman from North Carolina, serving from 1969-1975.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Alabama
• Properties on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in Washington County, Alabama

External links

• Washington County map of roads/towns (map © 2007 Univ. of Alabama).
• South Alabama Community Website